Self-playing instrument.



A; J. BLUNTAOH. SELF PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AP1L30, 1906.

Qwuewtoz Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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J. BL-UNTAGH.

LAYING INSTRUMENT.

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Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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SELF P APPLI'OAT A. J. BLUNTAOH. SELF PLAYING INSTRUMENT. APPLIGATION FILED APR.30, 1906.

aswentoz A. J; BLUNTAGH SELF PLAYING INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED APR. so, 1906 Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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. D c IHE NORRIS PETERS co.. WASHINGTDN A. J. BLUN'IAGH. SELF PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. so, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13, 190.8.

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@g v awuavnido i du fgfl THE-NORRIS PETERS C0, WASHINGTON. 193m A. J. BLUNTAUH.

SELF PLAYING INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION I'ILED APR. 30, 1906.

\ PatentedOot. 13, 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER J. BLUNTAOH, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES O. GOSS, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

SELF-PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. BLUN- TACH, citizen of the United States, residing at lVinona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Playing Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic piano, organ or like players in which a perforated web of paper is used to control the action of the mechanism.

The object of my invention is to produce a device which will be cheap in construction, direct and positive in operation, simple in its parts and adapted to be used in connection with any piano, organ or like instrument.

In the following specification is described, for example, my device as used to operate a piano, but it will be understood that it is equally well adapted for use with an organ or other similar instrument.

In the following specification and claims I will use the term piano to embrace, by the employment of this term, all instruments having a key board similar to a piano; and the specification and claims are to be read with this statement in view.

\Vith these stated objects in view, the in vention consists in certain parts and combinationsof parts, the preferred form of which will be first described and then the invention particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same'part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs Figure 1 is a top plan view of a piano equipped with a mechanical playing mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation viewed at the left. Fig. 4 is an end elevation viewed at the right. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, enlarged, of the central portion of the mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of certain of the parts at the right hand end of the mechanism. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of certain of the parts.

1, 2 designate a pair of side frames, the frame on the left hand side of the device,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 30, 1906.

Patented Oct. 18, 1908;

Serial No. 314,414.

when viewed from the front, being numbered 1, and that on the right hand side being numbered 2. These frames are connected together by a base board 3 extending be tween the frames at the lower portion thereof.

a desi nates a support which extends between the side frames 1., 2 near the upper rear portion thereof. The distance between these side frames is substantially equal to the distance between the ends of the key board which is adapted to be actuated by my device.

5, 6 are a pair of plates located intermediate of the frames 1 and 2 and supported by the base 3 and the support l. These plates are spaced apart and, preferably and as shown, are located equi-distant from the frames 1 and 2. The plate 5 is the left hand one of this pair when looking toward the machine and the plate 6 is the one on the right. Carried by these plates 5' and 6 is the mechanism which is operated upon by the perforated web or sheet which I will hereafter call the controller or record, this sheet being of the usual form for use in connection with machines of this character, that is, it has a series of perforations which correspond to the notes to be struck, the length of such note being indicated by the length of the perforation. This controller strip is wound on a roll and is wound from one rollto another, passing in its travel over a suitable device in front of which are arranged a series of fingers adapted to move into and out of the perforations in the controller.

7 designates a detachable roll onto which the controller 8 is Wound at the beginning of the playing operation. The controller passes from the roll 7 to the feed roll 9 onto which it is wound during the playing operation. In passing from the roll 7 to the roll 9, the controller 8 passes around a cylinder or similar device 10 in front of which are arranged certain fingers, to be hereinafter described, by means of which the piano is actuated. The roll 7 upon which the controller is wound is preferably detachable in order that different controller strips may be placed in the machine and may be removed by taking out the roller in the usual manner.

11 designates a shaft which preferably and as shown, is slidably mounted in the plate 5, this shaft being adapted to be moved inward to form a journal for one end of the roll 7 and be moved outwardly to permit of the removal of the roll.

12 designates a shaft reduced at each end, one end of which ll'lOl'llltOd in a suitable bearing in the side frame 2, and the other end of which passes through the side plate and is provided on its inner end with a cross pin 13 adapted to take into a notch 1 1-, in the end of the roll 7. By this means the roll is supported in the machine and the roll may be driven from the shaft 1.2 to rewind the controller after the playing operation is completed, and when the shaft 1 is free to rotate, the controller may be unwound from the roll 7.

The feed rollv 9 is suitably journaled between the side plates 5 and (3 and the shaft of the feed roll at one end projects through the side plates 6. The feed roll is suitably driven in order to wind the controller from the roll 7 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The controller 8 in passing from the roll 7 to the roll 9 passes around the roll 10 suitably journaled for rotation between the side plates 5 and G. This roll is provided with a series of grooves extending around its periphery.

lVhile I have shown the part 10 as a roll provided with circumferential grooves, it is to be understood, if desired a stationary bar provided with depressions might be substituted therefor, the roll merely acting as a support to the controller strip at the point where itactuates the fingers, to be hereinafter described.

16, 16 are a pair of blocks connected together by means of a cross strip 17. These parts 16 and 17 form a supporting frame or casing for the fingers which are directly con trolled by the perforated strip or controller.

18 is a rod which passes through the sides 16 and 17 and is journaled in the side plates 5 and G forming a pivot on which the casing may be swung.

19 designates a series of fingers which are centrally pivoted on the rod 18. These fingers are each provided with a linger tip 20 at their upper end which stand in front of the roll 1.0 and which are in register with the peripheral grooves 15 in the roll. These lingers, preferably, and as shown, each have on their inner side a notch cut therein, in which is secured one end of a spring 21 there being one spring for each finger. These springs are in the form of leaf springs and extend back so that their free ends extend nearly to the lower ends of the fingers.

22 is a bar extending behind the series of fingers near their lower ends and under which the springs 21 rest. This bar is secured to the ends 16 so as to be supported in the position shown.

23 is a second bar which extends along behind the fingers near the upper end thereof and limits the inward moven'ient of the up per ends of the fingers under the influence of the springs 21. This bar is preferably supported by a series of pins 24- which extend through openings in the lingers thus forming a comb to guide the fingers in their pivotal movement on the pivot 18. The lower ends of each of these fingers is connected with a mechanism by which the keys of the piano are operated in. a manner to be hereinafter described. For the present, it is sntlicient to say, that the controller in passing from the roll 7 to the roll 5) passes around the roll 10, as shown, and that as the perforations in the controller come under the various fingers, the finger tips move down through the perforations and into the corresponding grooves in the roll. This causes the fingers 19 to swing on their pivot 18 and by means of this movement, through a mechanism to be hereinafter described, the keys of the piano are pressed. The fingers remain in this position as long as the perforations permit and as soon as the perforations have passed from under the finger tips, they are raised and restored to their normal position which stops the sounding of the note controlled by the finger.

After the controller is entirely wound on the feed roll 9, it is desirable to rewind the same upon the detachable roll 7 in order that the controller may be removed from the machine. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to disengage the driving mechanism for the roll 9 and connect the roll 7 with a driving mechanism and to move the finger tips away from the roll 10, in order to permit its rewinding movement. I will now describe my preferred form of means by which I accoi'nplish this result.

2526 are a pair of links which a re pivoted together at one end at 27. The other end of the link is pivoted to one of the sides 16 of the finger sup iorting case. The other end of the link 26 is pivoted 'at 28 to the inner side of the plate 5. These links are so pivoted as to form a toggle as shown.

29 is a rod, one end of which is connected to the link 26 intermediate of its ends and the other end of which is provided with a handle 30 and extends out in front of the machine. This rod is guided in a suitable guide 31 mounted on the side of the plate 5. By means of this rod, the toggle formed by the links 252(S can be operated. As will be seen from the drawings, when the rod and links are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the finger tips 20 will rest against the periphery of the roll 10, whereas when the handle 30 is pushed in, to the position shown in Fig. 6 the toggle will be broken and. the lower end of the finger supporting case drawn inwardly, which will move the linger tips away from the roller 10 so that they will.

be out of contact with the roll and permit the backward movement of the controller.

One end of the shaft of the feed roll 9 extends through the side plate 6 and on the outer end thereof, is loosely mounted a pulley 32. This pulley is provided with a hub 33, having its inner face formed with ratchet teeth 34.

isa pin extending through the shaft of the feed roll 9 with which the teeth 34 are adapted to engage when the hub is in its inner position.

36 is an enlargement of the end of the shaft of the feed roll and 37 is a spring mounted. between the enlargement 36 and the pulley 32, tending to force the teeth 34 into engagement with the pin 35. The driving mechanism for the pulley 32 will be hereinafter described.

38 is a bar pivoted on a projection 39 ex tending out from the side frame 6, said bar having a yoke 40 at one end engaging a groove in the hub 33 and provided with a finger 41 at the other end, said finger extending out at an angle to the bar.

42 is a finger having a hooked end adapted to engage over the finger 41, said finger 42 extending out from one of the end blocks 16 of the casing of the fingers.

By this construction, it will be seen that when the case is swung in order to disengage the finger tips from the controller, the hooked end of the finger 42 will pass down the angular end of the finger 41 and by a camming action swing the bar 38 on its pivot and move the teeth 34 out of engagement with the pin 35, disconnecting the feed roll form its driving mechanism. After this has been accomplished, it is necessary to connect the roll 7 with a driving mechanism in order to rewind the controller. This in my preferred form of invention is accomplished by the following means. The shaft 12 on its end adjacent to the side frame 2 is provided with a pulley 43 which is loose on the shaft. The pulley 43 has projecting from one side thereof, a hub 44. The hub 44 is provided with a series of teeth on its inner edge which are adapted to engage a pin 45, passing through the shaft 12, by means of which the shaft 12 may be driven by the pulley 43. 46 is a spring arm, one end of which is secured to the top of the cross piece 4, the arm being provided at its outer end with a hook engaging a groove in the hub 44, said spring arm being so mounted that its tension will normally hold the teeth out of engagement with the pin 45. 47 is an eye formed in the spring arm 46 to which is secured one end of a wire 48. 49 is a rod mounted in suitable bearings 50 on the outside of the frame 5, one end of this rod extending beyond the frame and being arovided with a handle 51, the rod extending back along the frame and atits inner end 1s provided wlth a 44 to engage the pin 45, thus driving the roller 7. The pulley 43 is driven by means to be hereinafter described 'By the mechanism so far described, it will be seen that the controller strip 8 is fed from the roller 7 around the roller 10 and onto the roller 9. During this movement, the perforations in the controller pass between the finger tips 20 and the roller 10, and as the perforations in the controller strip pass below the finger tips, the latter will be forced through the perforations and into the corresponding grooves in the roller 10, thus causing the fingers 19 to swing on their pivot rod 18. It is by this movement of the fingers that the striking or pressing down of the keys of the piano is produced in a manner which will now be described.

5354 are a pair of rollers, the ends of which are supported in the side frames 1 and 2, these rollers extending the full distance between the side frames. These rollers are mounted in the side frames some distance apart with the roller 54 almost directly over the roller 53. Each of these rollers is in the form of a long ratchet being each provided with a series of grooves running longitudinally of the rollers, as clearly shown. The rollers are constantly driven during the operation of the machine and constitute the mechanism by which the key depressing hammers are operated, the operation of the fingers being merely to move a part into operative contact with these rollers.

55 are a series of flanges secured to the front face of the support 4 by means of screws 56 or the like. These screws preferably pass through elongated slots in the bars 55, so that the bars may be adjusted vertically on the support 4. These bars at their lower end are shown as being slotted and in the slots are mounted a series of bell crank levers 57, the bell crank levers being pivoted to the bars 55 by means of the pivots 58. These bell crank levers are each composed of two arms 59 and 60 which preferably extend at right angles to each other, the pivotal point of the bell crank being located in the and the other end of which is secured to the bell crank lever. This spring normally tends to hold the pawl with its lower end 62 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 53 when the parts are in their normal position. The end of the arm (30 of the bell crank lever is connected by a link (56 with one end of a bar (37, the other end of the bar being pi voted .in a block (58, secured to the under side of base 3. The link (36 forms, with the arm (50 a toggle. and is so arranged that when the parts are in their normal position, the bar (37 will be held in its raised position by the spring of the piano or organ key. \Vhen, however, the arm (30 is moved to straighten the toggle, the bar 67 will. be depressed, causing the note to sound, and the bar held down by the toggle formed by the arm (30 resting against the parts 75 and. 7G, presently to be described, and'is so held until finger 20 is raised out of the slot in the controller 8, which causes the parts to return to their normal position.

69 is a hammer secured to the lower face of the bar 67 by means of a screw 70 passing through the end of the hammer opposite the head 71 which is formed on the other end of the hammer. The heads 71 are formed different lengths to correspond with the black and white keys 7273 of the piano in the usual manner.

7% is-a screw passing through the bar 67 and resting upon the hammer near its central portion, said screw being adapted to adjust the hammer into proper contact with the keys and also to cause the hamniier to be slightly elastic by the yielding of its body portion. It is to be understood that there is a set of these levers and bars for each of the keys of the piano which is to be operated and that the sets are all alike.

75 a bar extending between the side frames 1 and 2 and so positioned as to stop the inward U'lOVOlIlClll) of the arms 60 of the bell crank levers when they have reached their inward position. This bar is provided on its back face with a sound deadening strip 76 of felt or the like.

77 is a means for cushioning the backward movement of the bell crank levers and in the form shown, consists of a bag filled. with shot, sand or the like and of suflicient length to extend behind the whole series of levers, the upper end of said bag being secured to the lower end of the support t by means of a clamp 78 secured to the support a by means of a screw 79 or the like.

80 are a series of springs, of any desired form, one of which is connected to each of the arms 60 and the corresponding bar (37, these springs being so connected as to hold the toggles in their positions after the keys of the piano are struck, the springs operating to hold the arms 60 against the part 75, thus preventing any rebound of the key from throwing the toggle action back to normal co n di tion.

I have now described the mechanism by which the fingers 19 are operated and also the mechanism by which the keys are struck and it only remains to describe the connection between the lingers 1S) and the key striking mechanism to complete this part of the construction.

81. are a series of arms, one of which extends down from the lower end of each of the lingers 15). These arms are each provided on their lower ends with an eye 82- into each of which the hooked end 82-} of one of the wires 84 engage.

85 are a series of rock shafts which are mounted upon the base 3 by means of suitable bearings 86 and extend. from the middle portion of the machine toward each end. These rods are of various lengths as shown, depending upon which of the keys they are connected with. Each of these rock shafts is provided with upwardly-turned ends 87--8S and the wires 84- are connected to the arms 87.

S9 is a wire connecting the end of the rock arm 87 with the arm 62 of the pawl 61.

From this construction, it will be seen that whenever a finger passes through a perforation in the controller that the rock shaft 85 will be rocked through the operation of the wire 8%, which, through the operation of wire 89, will. draw forward the lower end of the pawl (51, causing the lower end (32 of the pawl to be engaged by the teeth of the constantly revolving ratchet roller 53. This will cause the bell crank lever to be raised from the position shown in Fig. 2, causing the toggle formed between the link 66 and the arm. ('30 to straighten, depressing the bar 67 and depressing the key by n'ieans of the head of the hammer 71. The spring 80 operates to straighten the toggle and raise the arm 5. of the bell crank lever sulliciently far to cause the same to be clear of the ratchet roller 53, and the parts will remain in this position as long as the linger tip remains in the perforation of the controller. As soon as the end of the perforatioi'i comes under the finger tip, it will be raised out of the groove in the roller 10 and the finger swung back to its normal position. This will relieve the tension on the wire 84L and permit the bow spring ($5 to force the upper portion of the pawl arm 61 forward until the arm (33 comes in contact with the teeth of the ratchet roller 54. Because of the fact that the ratchet roller 54 rotates in the opposite direction from the ratchet roller 53, and its teeth are oppositely placed, this engagement will. cause the downward movement of the bell crank lever and the consequent breaking of the toggle formed by the link (36 and the arm (30, and thus raise the bar (37 which will break the toggle and permit the spring in the key of the piano to complete the upward movement of the hammer, such upward movement being merely started by the breaking of the toggle.

Y In the form of my invention shown, the device is adapted to be driven by hand power and for this purpose, I have mounted in extensions 90, fastened on the part 3, and extending out from the frames 2 and 6, a crank shaft 91 provided with a handle 92 loose thereon. This crank shaft, outside of the side frame 2, is provided with a pulley 93 from which extends a belt 941 to a pulley 95 mounted on the shaft 96 of the ratchet roller 54. 97 is a belt extending from the pulley 95 to the pulley 98 mounted on the shaft 99 of the ratchet roller 53. 100 is a pulley mounted on the end of the crank shaft adjacent to the side frame 6. From the pulley 100 extends a belt 101 to the sliding pulley 32 by which the feed roll 9 is driven. By these belts, as will be seen, the feed roll for feeding the controller strip through the machine is driven, and the ratchet rollers by means of which the hammers are actuated. In order to drive the detachable roller in order to effect the re-winding, I provide the ratchet roll 53 just inside of the frame 2 with the pulley 102 over which runs a belt 103 to the pulley 43 on the shaft 12. i

104. is an idler pulley, of usual form, by means of which the slack in the belt may be taken up.

105 are adjusting feet which are secured to the side frames 1 and 2 and on which the device rests when in position.

106 are a pair of claws adapted to engage under suitable screws 107 to secure the device in position on the piano.

In order to .hold the controller strip in. position when passing from the roll 7 to the roll 9 or back, I provide a plate 108 over which the controller strip passes. This plate is shown as curved and extends between the side plates 5 and 6. By this means the end of the controller strip is prevented from dropping down into the machine and it also acts to support the weight of the controller strip when passing from the roll 7 to the roll 10. Y

In order to prevent the roll 7 from over running when the sheet is being drawn off, I provide a brake 109 pivoted at 110, one end of which rests upon the edge of the roll 7 The other end of this brake has connected to it one end of the spring 111, the other end being connected to the lower portion of the casing formed by the parts 16 and 17 By thus connecting the spring, it will be seen that when the controller is to be rewound on the roller 7, there will be no tension on the spring because of the fact that at that time, the lower end of this casing is moved inward to remove the finger tips from the controller strip.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The roll 7 containing a controller strip wound thereon is placed in the device with one end connected to the shaft 12 and the end of the strip passed down over the plate 108, around the roll 10 and up over the feed roll 9, and is connected to the feed roll in any of the usual ways, such for instance as having a loop in the end of the strip which engages a hook on the feedroll. With the parts now in position, that is to say, with the fingers against the roll 10, the rewinding mechanism disconnected and the feed roll connected to its driving shaft, the crank shaft 91 is turned which causes the feed roll to wind up the controller strip thereon and draw the same over the roll 10 and under the fingers. The ratchet rollers 5 1 and 53 being driven by the crank shaft are set in rotation as soon as the mechanism is started. As soon as a perforation comes under one of the finger tips that tip passes through the perforation and into its corresponding groove in the roller causing the upper end of the finger carrying the tip to move forward under the influence of the spring 21 and the lower end of the finger draws on the wire SA which through the rock shaft 85 and the wire 89 draws a pawl on the bell crank lever corresponding to the finger forward, until the lower arm 62 of the pawl is engaged by the teeth of the ratchet wheel 53. As soon as this occurs, the

arm 59 of the bell crank lever is raised, which pulls the arm 60 forwardly past the center. As soon as the arm 60 is past its center the spring 80 pulls the arm 60 against part 75, which moves the bell crank sufficiently to allow the pawl arm 62 to clear the wheel 53. The toggle formed by the arms 60 and the links 66, is by this movement straightened out, depressing the bar 67 and causing the hammer head 71 to depress the key producing the sound corresponding to the depression in the controller. The parts remain in this position until the finger tip has passed out of the perforation. As soon as this occurs the finger moves back to its normal position, releasing the tension on the wire 89 and consequently permitting the spring 65 to push the upper arm 63 of the pawl forward. As the bell crank lever is in its raised position, this forward movement of the pawl causes it to engage with the ratchet roller .54. As soon as it is en gaged, the rotation of the roll forces down the bell crank lever, breaking the toggle and allowing the key, hammer and bar 67 to return to normal position. As soon as the toggle has passed its center, the spring of the key acts to still further break it, thus moving the pawl out of contact with the ratchet roller and permitting the spring 65 to set the pawl in its normal position, ready for the next operation. The buffer 77 opcrates to cushion the back motion of the bell crank levers and at the same time takes up any lost motion that there may be in the parts and holds them in such a position that when operated, they will move without having to take up lost motion. This is due to the fact that the parts are held in such a position by the cushion, that the pivots are caused to bear against those parts of their journal. as will. cause the parts to move in the proper direction to actuate a key. The bar 75 operates to stop the bell crank lever when it has been thrown over the center of the toggle by the spring of the key. Each time a perforation in the controller comes under one of the linger tips, this operation is repeated. After the entire controller strip has been fed from the roller '7 to the feed roller 9 or as much thereof as it is desired, and it is to be rewound on the roller 7, for the purpose of either ren'ioving it or again running it through the machine, the handle 30 is pressed forward, which through the rod 9 moves the toggle formed by the links 25 and 26 and draws the lower portion of the case containing the lingers inward, moving the linger tips away from contact with the c .mtroller on the roll 10. This movemeut of the linger case through the opera tion of the hook: 42 and the caln linger 41 operates to unelutch the pulley 312 from the shaft of the feed roll. i) and also takes the tension oil the brake 109 on the feed roll. The knob 51 is now turned to the right which, through the down-turned end 52 and the wire 48 draws on the spring arm. do and this carries the hub of the pulley 43 against the pin of the shaft 12 and connects the loose pulley 4:3 to the shaft. YVhen now the crank shaft is turned. while the knob 51 is held, the roll 7 will be driven and will wind the controller strip thereon. The controller strip may then be removed by removing the roll 7 and substituting another roll containing a different controller strip or the controller strip may be agz in run through the machine.

\Vhile I have described what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention, I desire to have it understood that many changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without changing the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. In an automatic piano-player, the own hination with a series of elements each adapt ed to depress a key of a piano, each of said elements comprisii'lg a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends, a second lever adapt ed to depress a key of the piano, a link by which one end of said lirst lever is connected to said second lever, and a movable part carried by the other end of the first mentioned lever, of means adapted for continuous i'novei'nent and means for moving said movable part into and out of the path of the continuously movable part.

2. In an automatic piano-player the comhination with a series of elements each adapted to depress a key of a piano, each. of said elements comprising a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends, a second lever adapted to depress a key of the piano, a link by which one end of said first lever is connected to said second lever, and a pawl pivotally mounted in the other end of the first mentioned lever, of a toothed roll adapted for continuous rotation, and means for moving said pawl into and out of the path of said toothed roll.

3. In an automatic piano player the combin ation with a. series of elements each adapted to depress a key of a piano, each of said elements comprising a lever fulcrumed i ntermediate of its ends, a second lever adapted to depress a key of the piano, a link by which one end of said first lever is connected to said second lever, and a pawl pivotally mounted in the other end of the first mentioned lever, a. pair of toothed rolls adapted for continuous rotation, and means for moving said pawl alternately into the path of said toothed rolls.

l. In an automatic piano player, the com hination with a series of elements each adapted to depress a key of a piano, each of said elements comprising a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends, a second lever adapted to depress a key of the piano, a link by which one end of said first lever is connected to said second lever, a spring connected to both said levers, and a movable part carried by the other end of the first mentioned lever, of means adapted for continuous movement and means for moving said movable part into and out of the path of the continuously movable part.

In an automatic piano player the combination with a series of elements each adapted to depress a key of a piano, each of said elements comprising a lever fulerumed intermediate of its ends, a second lever adapted to depress a key of the piano, a link by which one end of said first lever is connected to said second lever, and a pawl pivotally mounted in the other end of the first men tioned lever, said pawl being centrally pivoted with its ends extending in opposite directions from the lever, a pair of toothed rolls adapted for continuous rotation, and means for moving the ends of said pawl into the path of said rolls.

6. In an automatic piano player the combination with a series of pivoted arms and means to actuate the same, of a cushioning means located in the path of movement of the arms, against which the arms are adapted to strike when moved in one position, said cushioning means consisting of a bag secured behind said arms and extending the length of the series, said bag being filled With a granular substance, whereby differ ent portions of the bag can yield independently due to the independent movement of the granules Within the bag.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXANDER J. BLUNTACH.

Witnesses:

D. E. TAWNEY,

W. J. SMITH. 

